Somali Civil War (1991-)

The Somali Civil War is an ongoing civil war taking place in Somalia. It grew out of resistance to the Siad Barre regime during the 1980s. By 1988–90, the Somali Armed Forces began engaging various armed rebel groups, including the Somali Salvation Democratic Front in the northeast, the Somali National Movement in the northwest, and the United Somali Congress in the south. The clan-based armed opposition groups eventually managed to overthrow the Barre government in 1991.

Various factions began competing for influence in the power vacuum that followed, which precipitated an aborted UN peacekeeping attempt in the mid-1990s. A period of decentralization ensued, characterized by a return to customary and religious law in many areas as well as the establishment of autonomous regional governments in the northern part of the country. This also led to a relative decrease in the intensity of the fighting, with SIPRI removing Somalia from its list of major armed conflicts for the years 1997 and 1998.

In 2000, the Transitional National Government was established, followed by the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in 2004. In 2006, the TFG, assisted by Ethiopian troops, seized most of the south from the newly formed Islamic Courts Union (ICU). The ICU subsequently splintered into more radical groups, notably Al-Shabaab, which have since been fighting the Somali government and the AU-mandated AMISOM intervention force for control of the country.

In 2011, a coordinated military operation between the Somali military and multinational forces began, which is believed to represent one of the final stages in the war's Islamist insurgency.

U.S. & French Troops on Exercise in Djibouti; March 2016

Taken on: 2016-03-31
Source: U.S. Army

AMISOM Troops on Patrol; Dinsoor, Somalia, Sept 2015

Taken on: 2015-09-07
Source: AMISOM/Twitter

AMISOM and Somali National Army Soldiers on Patrol; Baardheere, Somalia, Sept 2015

Taken on: 2015-09-06
Source: AMISOM/Twitter

AMISOM Force Commander Lt. Gen. Jonathan Rono Visits Troops; Janaale,Somalia, Sept 2015

Taken on: 2015-09-05
Source: AMISON/Twitter

Ugandan AMISOM troops, Qoryooley - Somalia, Mar 2014

Taken on: 2014-03-22
Source: UN Photo/Tobin Jones/Flickr

Kenyan Troops With Destroyed Shabaab Technical, Somalia, 2013

Taken on: 2013-08-22
Source: Albany Associates/Flickr

Anti-Shabaab Raskamboni Militants on Truck, Somalia, 2013

Taken on: 2013-08-22
Source: Albany Associates/Flickr

Hague and Sheikh

Taken on: 2013-04-25
Source: AU-UN IST PHOTO / STUART PRICE

Kenyan Soldier Stands Gaurd

Taken on: 2012-11-28
Source: AU-UN IST PHOTO / TOBIN JONES

Somali Soldier and AU Vehicle

Taken on: 2012-11-27
Source: AU-UN IST PHOTO / STUART PRICE.

Ugandan Police Officer in Somalia

Taken on: 2012-11-09
Source: AU-UN IST PHOTO / STUART PRICE.

Al Shabab Fighters Surrendering

Taken on: 2012-09-22
Source: AU-UN IST PHOTO / ABUKAR ALBADRI.

Somali Refugees in Kenya

Taken on: 2011-08-11
Source: Internews Network

Dolo Ado Camp

Taken on: 2011-06-29
Source: Giro 555 SHO - Flickr

Dolo Ado Camp

Taken on: 2011-06-29
Source: Giro 555 SHO - Flickr

Burundi Peacekeepers

Taken on: 2006-09-24
Source: Rick Scavetta, U.S. Army Africa

Burundian Peacekeepers Prepare for Next Deployment to Somalia, Burundi, 2006

Taken on: 2006-09-24
Source: US Army Africa

Stationary UN tanks in support of Operation Restore Hope; Kismayo, Somalia, Nov 1993

Taken on: 1993-11-29
Source: US Department of Defense/Wikimedia